Electro-mechanical valve control mechanism



13, 1956 .1. J. SHACKELFORD 74,338

ELECTRO-MECHANICAL VALVE CONTROL MECHANISM Filed June 5, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR H l JESSE J 5 ACKELFORD ATTORNEYJ United States Patent vEEJEC'IRQ-MECHANIA1L VALVE CGNTROL MECHANISM Jesse J. Shackelford, Fairmont, W. Va., assignor to Fairmont Box Company, Canajoharie, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 3, 1953, Serial No. 359,245

Claims. (Cl. 12145) This invention relates to control mechanism, and more particularly to electro-mechanical valve operating mechanism, for controlling the operation of a fluid-operated piston.

In the conventional type fluid-operated piston, the valves are normally positioned and operated in such a manner that when the piston has come to the end of a stroke, it usually strikes the end of the piston with great force; then an inlet valve is opened introducing fluid under pressure, thus tending to return the piston in the opposite direction, exhaust means being provided at the opposite end of the cylinder. Usually the piston oscillates back and forth continuously, and no means are provided whereby intermittent motion may be imparted thereto. The length of the stroke is usually only limited by the length of the cylinder, so that the striking of the piston against the cylinder end wall is conducive to rapid wear of the cylinder and the piston, due to the metal to metal contact resulting therefrom. I

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide means for controlling a fluid-operated piston so that the length of the piston stroke may be varied and accurately controlled. a

It is another object of this invention to provide means for making both the power and exhaust stroke of the piston shock-free by providing a cushion of air having a controlled volume.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means for operating a. plurality of piston control valves in a predetermined timed sequence to impart intermittent oscillatory motion to the piston.

It is still another object of. this invention to provide valve means for controlling the volume of pressurized fluid admitted to and exhausted from the cylinder, and hence to control the speed of operation of the piston.

I accomplish these and other objects of my invention 'by providing a source of fluid under pressure communicating with a cylinder at each end thereof, intake valves for controlling the admission of fluid, exhaust valves, cams for opening and closing the intake and exhaust valves in pairs, electrically-operable means for imparting oscillatory movement to the cams, and switch means for actuating the electrically-operable means in predetermined timed relation, for controlling the length of the piston stroke.

Additional objects of my invention are accomplished by including adjustable valve means positioned between the source of fluid and the cylinder and additional adjustable valve means limiting the flow of exhaust fluid to thereby control the speed of operation of the'piston; and by including a pair of shafts mounted longi-tudinally in a.

frame for oscillatable movement, the shafts being disposed in end to end relation, in thelsa me horizontal and vertical planes to carry a plurality of spaced cams, which operate the intake and exhaust valves through mechanical linkage.

I further accomplished the objects of my invention by providing as the electrically-operable means a first solenoid for etfecting movement of a :firstcam shaft, mentioned above, in one direction; a second solenoid for effecting movement of said second cam shaft in the same direction and a third solenoid for eflectin-g movement of both cam shafts in the opposite direction to that caused by the first and second solenoids. Linkage is additionally provided, connecting the cores of the second and third solenoids. The first and second solenoids are mounted closely adjacent one another so that actuation of the third solenoid will return the cores of the first and second solenoids to operative position.

While some of the -objects of my invention have been set forth above, others will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the specification is read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a partially schematic side elevation, with some of the parts broken away and others in section showing the piston positioned in the rear of the cylinder, immediately following a complete cycle of operation,

Figure 2 is a plan view taken substantially along the line 2-2 in Figure 1 showing the positioning of the control valves.

Figure 3 is a detailed view of the upper portion of Figure 1, with parts omitted for purposes of clarity, to show the manner of mounting the switches and switch actuators.

Figure 4 is a side sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a circuit diagram showing connections which will produce intermittent operation of the piston, and

Figure S-A is a similar circuit diagram for effecting continuous operation of the piston.

In general, the mechanism operates by employing a plurality of electrical contact switches which, when actuated, energize alternately a plurality of solenoids, which operate through mechanical linkage, to control a plurality of cams, which in turn operate intake and exhaust valves in appropriate sequences to control the length and speed of the piston stroke and to provide a shock-free cushion to bring the piston to a stop prior to reversing the direction of the piston. The position of the switch may be adjusted to vary the length of the stroke and manually operable valves may be set to adjust the volume of the intake and exhaust fluid to thus control the speed of operation of the piston.

By making minor adjustments in the electrical circuit, the sequence of operation of the solenoids may be varied to provide a longer period of dwell of the piston at one end of the cylinder than that at the other as may be desirable after the completion of an exhaust stroke and before a power stroke. While such control mechanism may be employed in conjunction with any fluid operated piston it is particularly usefulin'connection with the feed ing of articles such as the partition pieces A, into a partition assembly machine shown in U. S. Patent 1,643,357 Wade et 211., issued September 27, 1927.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a cylinder shown in the upper portion of Figure l is broadly designated by the numeral 10. A piston 11 is carried therein and attached thereto is piston rod 11a. Figure 1 shows the piston and other mechanism positioned so that the piston ll'is in the rear of the cylinder 10 just after completion of an exhaust stroke. This is the normal position for beginning a cycle of operation.

A suitable mounting-for the cylinder is provided in the term of a channel bar 12. Cylinder heads 13, are suitably secured to a flange 14 of the cylinder, as-by bolts l5. A projection 16, which may be integral with thecylinder head 13 may be provided and suitably fastened, as by bolts 17, 'tothe channel bar 12.

A substantially rectangular frame, carryin-gthe valves,

- and the valve operating mechanism, is broadly designated illustrolling the volume o'f exhaust air. V

' a Asimilar setor" valves and valve' connections isshown at -A pair. of cam shafts 21 51112; are shown mounted in end to' end relation on suitable rollers 23.

The rollers are suitably mounted, as at 24, on horizontal transverse axes; so that the cam shafts will be freely reciproca'bly carried thereby for movement in a longitu: dinal direction.

A first solenoid 25, is suitablyfastened to the' lowerportion of the frame 20 adjacent the medial portion of cam shaft 21, as by welding. tendedso that when the solenoid is actuated by an'electrical'im'pulse, it will be; drawn in, causing the camshaft 21, operated through suitable linkage 26; to be moved to the right in Figure 1, the limits of thisjmovement bein g determined by a stop member'27p t A second solenoid 30' is. shown similarly secured to the frame '20 but positioned adjacent the -medial'portio'n 25 will be drawn in, and the camshaft 21 which is moye'd thereby will be positioned to the right in Figure 1, so that its inner end will be contacting the adjacent end bi cam shaft 22. Therefore, this movement will cause the cam shaft 21 to alsobe moved to the left in Figure l, 1as we'll asnthe' core 25a of solenoid25 which will bepushed by contact with-the core 40:; to the left in Figure 1.

f A cam SilshoWn positioned adjacentthe left-hand? end of cam shaft 21 for'actuatingatheplunger 51 of an V inlettlv a lve, broadly designated at 52, to. open same throughjsuitable linkage 53, which is ;in turn operated a by roller 54 riding up onjthe cam '50. .1 :5

[I'nthe medial portion of the cam shaft 21 is positioned I a cam 55 which :actuates the plunger 56 to open an eX- haustva'lve, broadly designated at 57, and which operates "through .suitable linkage 58, whichgis in turn operated j by a' roller 59 riding up on the cam 55. f

A cam 60'is shown positioned adjacent the right-hand end ofcam shaft zl fopactuating a'plunger :61 to open-an inlet valve, broadly designated a162, and which is'opert ated through suitable linkage 63, whichisinturnoperated by a roller 64 riding up on cam 60.." At the;right.-hand "end of tcam'shaftt22is positioneda cam 65 fort actuating Ia plunger 66 to .open an exhaustvalve, broadly designated' at :67, which is operated through suitabl'ei'jlinkage 68 by virtue of'a' roller'69 riding up on cam 65; r

It willfbe noted that a pair of bifurcated portions "70 and 71 are providedfor' pivotly'mounting the iiinks 53, 26, 5 6, 63,-32-,tand (SS-respectively; I "f A supply pipe 870 which maybe connectedto a source of compressed air1(.not shown) is shown positioned forwardly of the yalves 52 and; 57 for supplying air under} pressure thereto A nnanually, positionable valve 81 is' t shown in thegline 82-forrcontrollingthe volume' 'of air to be admitted-to-thecylindet 10 through the pipe connection S3. ;"An-eahaust liue-84 is shown reconnected on one I end; toithe pipeuconnection83 and on the otherendfto the oam-operated exhaust valve 57; ;A manuallyad-h lefvalv et85 is shown-in the'exhaust line 86 for con- 3 V on the right-hand side of Figures land 2, so that it is not deemed gnecessary to repeat thefdescription of the same, the correspondingparts'being'designated'by prime 7 notations. 1 1 1 V The core 25a is shown 'ex- 7 ,of the camshaft 22;. The core 3ilajissh owndraw'n in Y 'and itsstop member 31 contacting the frame of the sole- :noidfit), the shaft22, vby its linkage-connection 32,,having .A third solenoid; 40, positioned onthe ifr ame zbfad- V A line 87 introduces airfr in the supply pipe .80 into" an inlet pipe 83, which'is provided with a manually" 'settable valve 89 for introducing air to the right-hand end t compensate for natural leakage and compressionof the volume of air confined between the piston and the "cy'l-' inder head 13 which might 'cause the' piston to graduallyi creep to the rear 2 furtherdistance than would be ide- V sirable. This is useful primarily when the mechanism;

a is set for intermittent operation due to the fact that there is a relatively long period of dwell? of the piston in this 6 fl rear position. i

A VerticaI cframe mernber '99 supports a threaded" 7 member 91011 which is threadably mounted a firstmicro} switch 92, the threaded memberr haying knol'iliii' in a a position adjacentits, freefendjitofacilitatesmanual opera tion thereof. A pairfo, 1ail s,94 andf act as :guides for the microswitchflliavhenit is being adjusted fl'gggi-g tudinally by turning the; threaded member-91. V A second microswitch 96,;Fig'l -3,"is also gthr'eadably'mounted on u a threaded member 91 alsohaving a-knO bf 98 to facilitate manual r turning thereof. The second microswitch -96 is'also guidedby'the rails 34 and '95'during longitudinal adjustment. A vertical supportmember 99 serves a'sirniiar' function to that of supportmember 90 in that it point adjacent an end of the cylindenone oi the micro: switches 92 ;,or {9 6 will ,b efl clo'sedfto' actuate one of the solenoids 40. or 30; This point will be further discussed a in the description of the circuit diagrams to follow. 45

supports the threaded member 97 as well as the guiderails 94 and 95. a r h I I A:switch-actuating.jme nber, broadly designated at lfifl is slidably mounted on an additional pair of guide rails 101 and 162 and is suitably linked to the piston rod 11 by" V means of a conn'ecting rod 1(t3;'which imparts oscillatory;

; movement-thereto, accQIdillg to the movement fthe piston. The WiKh-actuating tmemberi .is provided withia raised-beveled portion lililag which isada'pted 'to v depress the contacts92gz of the first switch; and-a rais'ed v beveled portion1109b, which is adapted to depress the contacts 96a of {microswitch tfilthugtaetuating the switches; Qlt is thus seen that when the piston reaches a Figure 5, representing a circuit' diagram for intert niittent'operationof'the piston, shows schematically a a "line switch .105 for placing an alternating currentpotential' across the terminal blocks 106 2115107. An addition i h 108 (no previ u ly d c ibed) i p o i so that upon closing the same, solenoid 2 5 williepeive 7 t nekct l c p lse the e b ing c nnec ed across the terminal blocksllfl and 167 by the linetjililyon one I -;side- 'nd,the line 1111 on heot s The cl singj f wi h A V p 92 fwill cause solenoid 4t) toreceive an electrical'impulsef;

aiming connected across the terminalblocks-by lines 112 V V and 1 T e clos ng o wi h 96' wi c se sol noid figure "1 shows the various parts-in the position they? would normally'bein at the end 'of anexhaust stroke and i jusfbefor'e a power stroke, or at the point where the cycle a Df operatioh begins "It will benotedthat 'the pistonis in Q65; theorem-position fin cylinder 19 and that the intake'yalve v 52 s ope sb bi t heifIQn pQ t o fi e s oa f' t 11 to the air pressure that'obtainsin thesupplyliheSQ: V i

v Q-As described fpreviouslythis pressure is ,balifld bythe j j cushion of air on -the back side of the piston, whiehjs "made ,maintained'equal to the pressuregon'the frQDt-side-Q 0f. the ;piston' by 'iv'irtue}. of I the air entering through the r;

l'jadditional inletfifii. the remaining.valvesiaregclosem i J 1 [The cycle of Operation begins aftertherelosingof line 7 1; 1

mayqbe a micro switch andjmay be' closed byjthe opera 4 j 30 to receive an electrical impulse, it being connected j 3 .across the terminal blocks by lines 114 and 115." I

i Cycle of opcerqtion,

tion of any suitable instrumentality at a time when it is desired that a cycle of operation starts. When switch 108 is closed the core 25a of solenoid 25 will be drawn in, which will cause the cam shaft 21 to be moved to the rear, or to the right in Figure 1. When the cam shaft is thus moved, the intake valve 52 is closed, by virtue of the roller 54 moving off of the cam 50. Exhaust valve 57 is opened by virtue of the roller 59 moving onto the cam 55. Intake valve number 62 is opened by virtue of the roller 94 moving up on the cam 60 and depressing plunger 61. Exhaust valve 67 remains closed, since the cam shaft 22 has not been moved and the roller 69 therefore remains stationary. Thus air enters into the cylinder through intake valve 62, causing the cylinder to move forward while air in the front portion is permitted to escape through exhaust valve 57.

When the piston has moved forward a sufficient distance, the beveled portion 100a of the switch actuating member 100 depresses the contacts 920 of microswitch 92, thus energizing solenoid 40. The energization of solenoid number 49 will cause its core 40a to be drawn in, thus moving the cam shafts 22 and 21 to the left in Figure 1. With both cam shafts 21 and 22 in the forward position, or to the left in Figure l, exhaust valve 67 is open, intake valve number 62 is closed, exhaust valve 57 is closed and intake valve 52 is open. It is thus seen that the direction of the piston will be reversed before it has had an opportunity to strike the wall of the cylinder head 13. With the intake and exhaust valves thus operating in pairs, air entering through intake valve 52 will drive the piston to the rear, or to the right in Figure l, and the air in the rear portion of the cylinder will be permitted to escape through exhaust valve 67.

As the piston returns to the rear, the beveled portion of switch-actuating member 100 will depress the contacts 96a of switch 96, thus energizing solenoid 30. This will cause the core 30a of solenoid 30 to be drawn in into its magnetic field, thus moving the cam shaft 22 to the right in Figure 1. This movement .will result in the closing of exhaust valve 67 to thus cushion the piston and bring the same to a stop in this rear position. Thus one complete cycle of operation is at an end, andthe piston is in position to begin another power stroke upon the closing of switch 168.

Figure 5-A shows a circuit diagram for continuous operation of the piston. It will be observed that the chief difference between this circuit and the one shown in Figure 5 is that switch 168 has been omitted and that the solenoid 25 has been connected so that it will be energized by the closing of switch 96 through the lines 120 and 1221. Corresponding prime notations are used to designate the remaining elements of this diagram.

By utilizing such a circuit, it will be noted that after closing the line switch 105', switch 96 being already closed will energize solenoids 25 and 39, which cause the cam shaft 21 to be moved to the right in Figure 1 by virtue of the cores 25a and 30a being drawn into their respective magnetic fields. This movement of the cam shafts causes closing of intake valve 52, opening of exhaust valve 57, opening of intake valve 62, and closing of exhaust valve 57 thus causing the piston 11 to move forward on a power stroke to the point when switch 92 will be actuated. The closing ofswitch 92' will cause both cam shafts 22 and 21'to move to the left in Figure l by virtue of the core 40a of solenoid at) being drawn into its field with the consequent opening of intake valve 52, closing of exhaust valve 57, closing of intake valve 62 and opening of exhaust valve 57 thus returning the piston to the rear, until switch 96' is again closed, thus effecting continuous operation of the piston. I

While the invention has been described as being op- While the invention has been described in the form of a preferred embodiment using specific terms, it will be understood that these terms are used in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation and that many changes and modifications in form, arrangement of parts and details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and that all such changes and modifications as follow within the scope of the appended claims are contemplated as part of this invention.

I claim as my invention:

l. A piston control device comprising, a piston, a cylinder, a source of fluid'under pressure communicating with'the cylinder adjacent each end thereof, intake valves for controlling the admission of fluid,.exhaust valves communicating with the cylinder. adjacent each end thereof, a frame, a pair of longitudinal shafts mounted for oscillatable movement in said frame, said shafts being disposed in end to end relation and in the same horizontal and vertical planes, a plurality of spaced'cams carried by said shafts for operating said intake and exhaustvalves responsive to movement of the shafts, electrically operable means for oscillating said shafts for opening and closing the intake valves and the exhaust valves in pairs and switch means for actuating said electrically operable means in predetermined timed relation, thereby controlling the length of the piston stroke.

2. A piston control device comprising, a piston, a cylinder, a source of fluid under pressure communicating with the cylinder adjacent each end thereof, intake valves for controlling the admission of fluid, exhaust valves communicating with the cylinder adjacent each end thereof, cam means for opening and closing the intake and exhaust valves in pairs, electrically operable means for actuating said cam means, a plurality of adjustably positionable switches for actuating said electrically operable means, a plurality of longitudinally disposed shafts on which said switches arethreadably mounted for longitudinal adjustment thereon,- longitudinally disposed guide erated by air under pressure, it is obvious that the device a may be adapted so that any type of fluid under pressure may be used for the operation of the piston.

members on which said switches are slidably carried when their position is being adjusted longitudinally on said shafts for varying thelength of the piston stroke, a piston rod and means carried by the piston rod for actuating said adjustably positionable switches whereby the length of the piston stroke may be controlled.

3. A piston control device comprising, a frame, first and second cam shafts reciprocably carried by the frame, linkage means for controlling the movement of the cam shafts, a plurality of spaced cams carried by the shafts,

electrically operable means for operating said linkage means, variably positionable switch means for actuating said electrically operable means in predetermined timed intervals, a piston, a cylinder within which the piston is oscillatably carried, a source of fluid under pressure communicating with the cylinder adjacent each end thereof, a first intake valve and a first exhaust valve communicating with the cylinder adjacent one end thereof, and a second intake valve and a second exhaust valve communicating with the cylinder at the other end thereof, and linkage means operated by the cams for opening and closing an intake valve on one end of the cylinder and an exhaust valve on the other end of the cylinder in alternate pairs.

4. piston control device. comprising, a frame first and second cam shafts reciprocably carried by the frame, linkage means for controlling the movement of the cam shafts, a plurality of spaced cams carried by the shafts, electrically operable means for operating said linkage means, variably positionable switch means for actuating the solenoid means in predetermined timed intervals, a

piston, a cylinder within which the piston is oscillatably carried, a source of fluid under pressure communicating with the cylinder adjacent each end thereof, a first intake valve and a first exhaust valve communicating with the cylinder adjacent one end thereof, and a second intake valve and a second exhaust valve communicating with posite direction.

the cylinder at the other end'thereqf, and linkage'means operated by the camstfor opening and closing anjintake a v n'o e o thec anda ex us v lve on the other end of the cylinder in alternate pairs, said cams being so positioned that movement of saidjfirst cam" shaft will operate said first and second intake valves and said first exhaust valve and movement of said second cam shaft .willioperate. said second exhaust valve whereby movementof said first'cam shaft will close said first ina 'take valvetan'd said second exhaust valve and open said second intake valve andsaid first exhaust valve tofmove the piston in onedirection whilemoyement of said sec 7 5, A piston 7 control "device comprising, fram first and second card shafts reciprocably carried by the frame,

linkage means for ,contrpllin'g the movement 'of tjhe cam" shafts, .a plurality of spaced cams carried'bythe shafts, electrically operahle means' for operating said linkage means, variably positionable switch meansfor actuating said electrically operable means in predetermined tirned intervals, a piston, a cylinder Withinwhich the piston is oscillatably carriedpa source of 'fluid under pressure corn municating with cylinder adjacent each end thereof, a first intake valve and-a first exhaust valve communicating with the cylinder adjacent one end thereof, and a second intake valve and a secondcxhaust valve communicating With'the' cylinder, at the other end thereof, and linkage, means op-,

ond shaft will resnlt in movement ofithepiston' in the .op j

ment 'oftsaid second cam shaft 'the same direction as said first cam shaft, a'third solenoid for efiectingmov=- ment of both cam shaftsin the opposite direction to that caused by said first and second solenoids and a plurality t of spaced cams'carriedlbysaid camishafts forjopen'ing and closing the valves.

t 8. A valve operating mechanism, as set forth in claim 7, including a mechanical linkagebetween the cores of said second and third solenoids and whereinsaid firstand second solenoids are mounted-adjacentzone anotherQso that actuation of said third solenoid will return the cores 7 of said first and second solenoids to operating'position.

9. A piston control device comprising, a frame, a plu- V rality'of cam shafts reciprocably carried'by thefrarne, a t plurality of spaced cams carried by the shafts, e'lectrically operable means for oscillating'said cam'shafts, switch meansfor actuating said electrically operable means-at predetermined t'imed intervals, a piston," a'cylinder within which the piston is oscillatably carried, a source of fluid,

under pressure communicating with the cylinder adjacent each end thereof, a first intake valve and a first exhaust valvecornmunicating with the'cylinder-adjacent oneend I thereof, a second intake valvetand a second exhaust valve communicating with the cylinder'at'the other end thereof and linkage means operatedby the cams foropening and 7 closing an intake valve on one-end of the cylinder and an erated by the cams for opening and closing an intake valve on one endof the cylinder and an exhaust valve on the, other end of the cylinder in alternatepairs, said 1electrically operable means comprising, a firsttsolenoidfor v effecting movement of said first cam shaft in one jdirec-o .tion, a second solenoid for eifecting oscillatable movement of said secondcarn shaft inthe same direction as said first cam shaft, a third solenoid for efiectinglmoyement of both Cam shafts in'the opposite direction tto that caused by 7 said first 'andsecond solenoids; a 'mechanical linkage be- I tween the cores of said second and third solenoids and wherein said first and secondsolenoidsare mountecl adjacent one another, so that actuation of said third'solenoicl Will return thelcores of said first and second ,solenoids to operating position whereby, when the, piston i's trically-operable means for oscillating said cams for openexhaust valve on the other, endof the cylinder in alter nate-pairs. r i

10. A piston control device comprising, a piston, a cylinder, a source of fiuid under pressure communicating with the cylinder adjacent each end, thereof, an intake valve forcontrolling the admission of fluid atieach end of the cylinder, an exhaust va'lveconimunicating with the cylinder adjacent eachend thereof; a'plurality: of horizontally disposed aligned oscillatably mounted cams, elec- "in'g anintake valve and an exhaust valve on opposite t i a a V exhaust strokethe correspondingiexhausttvalve will be *sidesof said piston in pairs in predeterminedttimed sefquences and additional electrically operable meanstfor so positioning-one of thezcams that on the completion of an closedv thereby permitting the corresponding intake valve on an exhaust stroke, actuation of saidtsecond solenoid I V will close said secondexhaust valve providing a cushion 'of'fluid againstwhich the piston may dwell until a power stroke Eisiinitiated by the actuation of Said thirdj solenoid. ,6. A valve operatingmechanism comprising, first and second oscillatablymounted cam shafts,.said cam shafts being mounted in endtotend relation in the same horizontal and vertical planes, electrically operable means for" effecting movement of "said cam shafts}, one at a time, in the same direction in apredetermincd timed sequence, ad: ditional electrically operable means for rno ving both of thecam shafisin the opposite direction in one movement 7 and a plurality'of cams carriedtby thejshaftswherebya plurality ofvalves may be opened and closed in a pre-l determined timed sequence.

7. i A valve operating meehanis fort effecting movement of said first'fcam shaftin one dit v eomprising, first :and second longitudinally oscillatably mounted cam shafts, said cam shaftsbeing mounted in end to end relation in the same horizontal and vertical planes, a first solenoid V, rection, a second solenoid for effecting oscillatable move V 2655903 to remain open, whereby the'piston may dwell against a 1 cushion of fluid until a power stroke is initiated by closing, I. v the corresponding intake valve and "opening the other pairofvalves. v i V V 7 V References Cited in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS V a,

Nayl'or V Ma at), 1399 

